As heavy rains sweep through Mumbai and several parts of India, life has become especially hard for stray dogs and cats who call the streets their home. With fewer dry corners to curl up in, closed food stalls, and waterlogged roads, these voiceless animals face a dangerous and exhausting season ahead.
So what can be done?
Pet nutritionist Dr. Madhulika P.S. offers a practical and impactful idea:
“One of the easiest solutions is to donate shipping crates. They’re affordable, weather-resistant, and with a bit of basic carpentry, they can be turned into small roadside shelters for two to three dogs. If built deliberately small, it also prevents human misuse.”
This simple act can be the difference between comfort and chaos, between safety and suffering.
Ritika Mukesh Jhangiani, Founder of Strays Of India, a Mumbai-based NGO working since 2015, echoes this sentiment and expands on community involvement:
“Monsoons can be especially harsh for stray animals who have no safe place to go. There are safe, meaningful ways each of us can help. For starters, maybe we can leave out cardboard boxes or old plastic crates lined with cloth in sheltered corners of our buildings and societies. These can provide immediate dry refuge. It gets cold on really rainy and stormy days and the cloth-covered boxes and crates can give a stray dog or cat some much-needed warmth, which is extremely essential during the monsoons.”
She urges communities to take action:
“If possible, speak to your society members or the secretary of your building and allow animals to take cover in parking lots or stairwells during heavy rains. It might be challenging when you have a large society, but starting the conversation is key. As an NGO, Strays of India can help facilitate this.”
Ritika also suggests connecting with local shop owners to create small covered spaces outside their shops and to provide food and clean drinking water — essential for maintaining the animals’ immunity and health during this vulnerable season.
“Survival becomes even tougher in this season for all stray animals. A little kindness goes a long way in keeping our street animals safe. And it is our duty as citizens to do this.”
Rain doesn’t just soak their fur — it drowns access to food.
Many community animals depend on regular feeders or leftover scraps from roadside stalls. During monsoon, those sources dry up. Dry food in sealed containers, left in secure feeding stations, can go a long way. Even a packet of biscuits or a bowl of cooked rice makes a difference.
This is your moment to show up.
With the right tools and community effort, we can create real change. Whether it’s donating materials, offering temporary shelter, or simply spreading awareness, each action counts.
Let this monsoon not just be about staying dry — but helping those who have no roof to retreat.
